ECOWAS Vacancies in Abuja, Nigeria, February 2015


The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with headquarters in Abuja, invites applications from suitably qualified citizens of the Community to fill the following vacant positions in the professional category.



Position: Secretary-General, D2
Objective of Position:
To serve as chief adviser to the Speaker of the Parliament on procedural matters, and to manage the day-to-day running of the secretariat of Parliament.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Secretary-General is the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Parliament, Reporting to the Speaker, he/she performs the following functions:

  • Acts as chief adviser to the Speaker on matters of Parliamentary procedure.
  • Oversees the day-to-day running of the Secretariat of the Parliament.
  • Acts as the channel of communication between the Speaker and other members of Parliament and the Secretariat.
  • Oversees the preparation of the order paper, reports, votes and proceedings of the Parliament, the Bureau and the Committees and ensures their publication and safe custody.
  • Oversees the recruitment, deployment, supervision and management of the staff of the Parliament.
  • Acts as the Accounting Officer of the Parliament.
  • Prepares and manages the annual budget of the Parliament and submits quarterly and annual statements to the Bureau.
  • Any other duties as may be assigned by the Speaker.
Qualifications and Experience
  • A minimum of a Masters Degree in Management, Public Administration, the Social Sciences or Law from a recognized University. A minimum of twelve (12) years international experience including seven (7) years of Parliamentary work experience at a managerial level is required. In addition, the candidate must be proficient in at least two of the three Community languages English, French and Portuguese. Proficiency in the use of a computer is also required.
Salary Scale
The pest of Secretary-General is on D2 of the ECOWAS salary scale: UA44,636 UA55,455 per annum.


 Position: Director of Administration and Finance, D1
Objective of Position
Co-ordinates administrative support to the Parliament, particularly in the areas of human resource, general administration, finance, communication, facility management and transport.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director of Administration and Finance is the head of the Administration and Finance Directorate. Reporting to the Secretary-General, he/she performs the following functions:
  • Plans, co-ordinates and supervises the activities of the Human Resource and Administration Division, Finance Division, Communication Division and Facility Management and Transport Division of the Parliament.
  • Advises on and participates in policy formulation and review relating to Administration and Finance; oversees its effective implementation.
  • Interprets the broad policy guidelines of the Parliament and its organs such as the Plenary, the Bureau, the Conference of Bureau and the Secretariat as they relate to the domain of Administration and Finance.
  • Negotiates strategic partnership and collaborations related to Administration and Finance to advance the work of the Parliament.
  • Performs other duties as may be assigned by the Secretary-General.
Qualifications and Experience
  • A minimum of a Masters Degree in Management, Public Administration, Business Management, Economics or the Social Sciences from a recognized University. Equivalent qualifications from recognized professional bodies will be accepted.
  • A minimum often (10) years international experience, including six (6) years of Parliamentary work experience at a managerial level is required.
  • In addition, the candidate must be proficient in at least two of the three Community languages English, French and Portuguese, Proficiency in the use of a computer is also required.
Salary Scale:
The post of Director of Administration and Finance is on D1 of the ECOWAS salary scale: UA38,814-UA48,222 per annum.


Position: Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research, D1
Objective of Position:
To co-ordinate technical support to the Parliament, particularly in the areas of parliamentary business, parliamentary reports, research, documentation and language services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research is the Head of the Parliamentary Affairs and Research Directorate. Reporting to the Secretary-General, he/she performs the following functions:
  • Plans and co-ordinates the activities of the parliament Affairs and Research Directorate.
  • Organizes and ensures a smooth parliamentary procedure.
  • Drafts the reports of the sessions of Parliament.
  • Co-ordinates and supervises the activities of units in charge of research and documentation.
  • Co-ordinates the drafting of the agenda and work programme of the sessions of Parliament and those of the organs of Parliament.
  • Prepares the preliminary draft of the annual activity report of the Parliament in collaboration with the other Directorates/Divisions of the General Secretariat.
  • Maintains relations between the Community Parliament and
    the National parliaments as well as with inter-parliamentary
  • Assists the Secretary-General in planning and implementing the activities of the organs of Parliament.
  • Carries out all other duties as may be assigned.
Qualification and Experience:
  • A minimum of a Masters Degree in Law, Public Administration, or Social Sciences from a recognized University. A minimum of ten (10) years professional experience, including six (6) years’ experience in the management of Parliamentary procedure is required.
  • In addition, the candidate must be proficient in at least two of the three Community languages English, French and Portuguese. Proficiency in the use of a computer is also required.
Salary Scale:
The post of Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research is on D1 of the ECOWAS salary scale: UA38.814 UA48.222 per annum.


Position: Coordinator/Interpreter, P5
Objective of Position:
To co-ordinate and ensure quality language services to the Parliament.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Director of Parliament Affairs and Research, the Co-ordinator/Interpreter is the Head of the Language Division. He/She will perform the following functions:
  • Co-ordinates and supervises the activities of the Language Division.
  • Co-ordinates the hiring and scheduling of interpreters andTranslators during sessions of Parliament, committee meetings and other meetings of the General Secretariat.
  • Participates in and supervises Interpretation Services and ensures timely and quality services delivery.
  • Performs any other duties as may be assigned.
Qualification and Experience:
  • A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any of the Community Languages English, French and Portuguese.
  • A Diploma or Certificate in Interpretation, with at least eight (8) years post qualification experience in Interpretation, preferably in an international organization, including two (2) years’ supervisory experience.
  • Proficiency in the use of a computer, including applications such as Word, Excel, internet research and email communication, as well as relevant language software, is required.
Salary Scale:
The Post of Co-ordinator/Interpreter is on P5 of the ECOWAS salary scale:
UA33.607 UA37,996 per annum.


Position: Principal Librarian/Documentation Officer, P5
Objective of Position:
To co-ordinate and ensure that records are kept of all validated documents emanating from the work of the Parliament, and that information and documentation necessary to facilitate and support the work of the Parliament are made available in the library.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research, the Principal Librarian is the Head of Documentation Division. He/She will perform the following functions:
  • In consultation with the other Divisions and units of the Institution,   proposes policy and procedure for the management of the library and documentation of the Parliament.
  • Supervises the staff of the Documentation and Research Division to ensure good library services comparable with those in international Parliamentary Libraries.
  • Ensures the production, preservation and availability of desired documents to meet the needs of all organs of the Parliament.
  • Establishes links with other libraries and international resource centres to facilitate access to scarce sources of information.
  • Encourages and facilities usage of the library by developing information tools on the library collection and facilities, as well as on the ways to access these.
  • Makes proposals from time-to-time for the modernization and up-dating of the diversified forms of research.
  • Performs any other duties as may be assigned.
Qualification and Experience
  • A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science plus eight (8) years post qualification experience, including two (2) years supervisory experience.
  • Work in National or Regional Parliament or an international organization is an advantage.
  • Proficiency in one of the Community Languages and working knowledge in a second is required.
  • Proficiency in the use of a computer, including applications such as Word, Excel, Internet Research and email communication, as well as relevant software, is required.
Salary Scale
The post of Principal Librarian/Documentalist is on P5 of the ECOWAS salary scale: AU33,607 UA37,996 per annum.


Position: Principal Research Officer, P5
Objective of Position:
To co-ordinate and provide research services in relevant areas to support the work of the Parliament.
Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of parliamentary Affairs and Research, the Principal Research Officer performs the following functions:
  • Co-ordinates the conduct of research on areas of interest aimed at supporting the Parliament or its Committees.
  • Deploys staff to research for individual Members of parliament and Committees.
  • Provides information for policy formulation and for inclusion in fact sheets.
  • Compiles relevant statistics and data for publication.
  • Supervises subordinate officers in the conduct of research.
  • Performs any other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Experience:
  • A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Sociology Law or Public Administration plus eight (8) years post qualification research experience, or a higher degree with six (6) years research experience.
  • Preference will be given to candidates with research degrees, especially at the PhD level. Prior working experience in a National or Regional parliament or an International Organization is an added advantage
  • Proficiency in one of the Community Languages and working knowledge in a second is required.
  • Proficiency in the use of computer, including applications such as Word, Excel, internet research and email communication, as well as relevant software, is required.
Salary Scale
The post of Principal Research Officer is on P5 of the ECOWAS salary scale:
UA33.607 UA37,996per annum.


 Position: Editor of Debates
Objective of Position;
Co-ordinate and ensure recording of the proceedings of the Parliament and production of the Hansard.
Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of Parliament Affairs and Research, the Editor of Debates shall perform the following duties:
  • Supervises and co-ordinates the work of the Hansard Division
    to ensure the timely production of accurate verbatim reports of
    the proceedings of Parliament and its committees.
  • Oversees the compilation, collation, editing, indexing and
    printing of the official reports of proceedings of Parliament and
    its committees.
  • Initiates and implements policies to ensure quality control in the production of reports of Parliament.
  • Applies international formats and standards in Hansard production to ensure the highest quality of reports.
  • Performs other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Experience:
  • A minimum of a Bachelors Degree in the Humanities, the Social Sciences or Mass Communication from a recognized University with a minimum of eight (8) years relevant professional experience, including two (2) years at a supervisory level.
  • Excellent command of one of the Community languages English, French or Portuguese and proficiency in a second is required.
  • Thorough knowledge of Parliamentary practice and procedure, as well as the formats of Parliamentary documents is required.
  • Experience in reporting, editing, proofreading, typesetting applications such as Word, Publisher, Excel and internet research and email communication, is required.
Salary Scale
The post of Editor of Debates is on P5 of the ECOWAS salary scale: UA33 607 UA37.996 per annum


Eligibility
The vacancies are restricted to citizens of ECOWAS Member States only. Candidates must not exceed the age of fifty (50) years by the date of appointment.

Submission of Applications
Interested applicants should submit their applications with detailed Curriculum Vitae and photocopies of relevant credentials to:

The Honourable Speaker
ECOWAS Parliament
International Conference Centre
PMB, 576, Garki Abuja
Federal Republic of Nigeria
 Deadline of Application

The deadline for the submission of applications is 20th March 2015.